Nepal to Prioritize Climate Change Impacts at UN General Assembly

Kathmandu. Nepal is preparing to prioritize the damage it is suffering from climate change, climate justice, climate finance, and the impact on the Himalayan region at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amrit Bahadur Rai informed about the topics Nepal will raise at the General Assembly during a meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee held at Singha Durbar on Thursday, stating that the world community will be drawn to the damage to life and property Nepal is suffering due to the climate crisis.

According to him, in the General Assembly, one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, all 193 member states practice universal equality on the basis of ‘one nation, one vote’. He stated that the General Assembly has been serving as an important forum for discussion, policy-making, and promotion of multilateral cooperation on important global issues.

Secretary Rai mentioned that the General Assembly provides an opportunity for small and developing nations to present their national interests and agendas on the world stage, and its importance is even greater for landlocked and least developed countries like Nepal. According to Rai, a delegation led by Prime Minister Balen Shah will participate in the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

He informed that Prime Minister Shah is scheduled to address the General Debate during the high-level week of the General Assembly. He also stated that during the visit, the Prime Minister has a program to meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

According to Secretary Rai, the delegation led by the Prime Minister will include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister’s Chief Advisor Kumar Byanjankar, and others. Rai informed the committee that the Nepali delegation is scheduled to depart for New York on September 22 and return to the country on September 26.

Nepal will urge the international community to provide immediate and appropriate financial assistance through mechanisms such as the ‘Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage’ for the damage caused by climate change, Rai said. He informed that developed countries will be appealed to provide necessary support to Nepal for climate-resilient infrastructure, climate-smart agriculture, technology transfer, and capacity development to mitigate risks and adapt to climate change. He stated that Nepal is preparing to present the issue of climate justice by linking it with scientific evidence and Nepal’s actual risks on the international stage.

He said, ‘During this General Assembly, Nepal is organizing a high-level side event titled ‘Sagarmatha to the Sea: A Call to Action for Climate Resilient Future’. The main objective of this program is to draw the attention of the world community by discussing the negative impact of global climate change, especially in the Himalayan region, and the devastating consequences arising from it.’

Nepal will also present its contribution to global environmental conservation at the General Assembly. According to Secretary Rai, Nepal will inform the international community about its contribution to global environmental conservation through its nature-friendly lifestyle, more than 40 percent forest cover, vast Himalayan region, and extensive river systems.

He stated that Nepal, which is suffering the effects of the climate crisis, will also raise the issue of appropriate international recognition and support for its contribution to environmental conservation. During the General Assembly, Nepal will organize a high-level side event on ‘Sagarmatha to the Sea: A Call to Action for Climate Resilient Future’.

The program will discuss the impact of global climate change, especially on the Himalayan region, the changes seen in the Himalayan ecosystem, and the risks arising from it. Secretary Rai said that the main objective of the program is to draw the attention of the world community to the climate crisis in the Himalayan region.